Saturday, May 20, 2017 Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) - 10:10 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -171 Los Angeles Dodgers Pick Title: Preakness Stakes Winning Take-It-To-The-Windows Plus Red Hot MLB (LOSS) There's no doubt that Don Mattingly & his Marlins are feeling the void left after Jose Fernandez's tragic death back in September. Besides bright spots by CF Marcell Ozuna & RF Giancarlo Stanton, there hasn't been too much production for Miami whose now lost 19 out of their last 23. In fact, they're actually over-achieving on the road @ 8-13 so I'm expecting quite a more than a few on the immediate horizon. The Marlins come in 3-5 versus LHP & have lost 9 consecutive versus winning ball clubs. My bottom line stresses NOT to over-look how well LA has played @ home (15-6) NOR how well they've hit RHP (.274) coming into this contest. It looks like bringing up 3B Chris Taylor (went 3-for-4 yesterday after just getting called up from Oklahoma City in the Pacific Coast League) has paid big dividends & he's probably earned to start in a bunch of games forthcoming. The dagger for us here has to be way Dodger Blue has dominated the NL East. They've won a whopping 77% of their games (23-7) versus that division & I don't see that number slowing down too much. Let's go Dodger Stadium in the confines of Chavez Ravine to play the LOS ANGELES DODGERS as my 9 Star MLB Saturday Scorcher! Now let's dive right in to the much-anticipated Preakness Stakes. Do I feel that Always Dreaming will breeze tonight? No, I'm not expecting it. What I do feel is that Always Dreaming won't get that same "dream ride" he enjoyed in the Kentucky Derby. For this one, there will be tighter turns, a much shorter distance & not too much of a chance for congestion at the start. So who's going to capitalize on this. I look for #5 CLASSIC EMPIRE to step it up since his horrible ride @ the Derby. Remember, he got squeezed leaving the gate & was kicked numerous times in congestion while still managing to finish in the money @ 4th. Jockey Julien Leparoux has finished in the money before @ this track but will be highly motivated to get his first Preakness win. I'm anticipating he has enough left to kick in enough speed to close despite this being his 3rd start in 5 weeks. For my 2nd pick, I'll take Derby winner #4 ALWAYS DREAMING with jockey John Velasquez (his best finish was 2nd in 7 previous runs in Baltimore). I feel it will be tough to duplicate that excellent 46.2 @ the half mike again. However, this dark bay colt trained by Todd Pletcher has enough closing speed to be in it to win it. I look for Always dreaming to not duplicate that same trip but to be talented enough to be in the money. My pick closing out to show is the #2 dark bay colt CLOUD COMPUTING who'll have jockey Javier Catellano aboard (won Preakness once, has a third in 5 starts). This horse has already showed it can run against the grain in the Wood Memorial & is looking fresh here. He should close & edge out #10 CONQUEST MO MONEY(just got edged out by Classic Empire in the Arkansas Derby last month) for 3rd but we'll have to respect his speed to be right there for the final money. Here's all Preakness plays in take-it-to-the-window fashion. #5 to PLACE for $14-----insurance bet #2 to WIN for $6-----insurance bet #10 to PLACE for $10-----insurance bet #1 to SHOW for $6-----EXACTA BOXED for $10 on 5-4-----$4 TRIFECTA WHEEL on 4-5 OVER 4-5-10-2 OVER 4-10-2-9-----$4 SUPERFECTA WHEEL on 4-5 OVER 4-5-10 OVER 4-10-2 OVER 10-2-9----- $10 STRAIGHT TRIFECTA on 5-4-2-----$2 STRAIGHT TRIFECTAS on 5-4-10-----4-5-2-----4-5-10-----5-1-4-----5-4-1-----4-5-1-----4-1-5-----5-10-4-----4-10-5-----10-4-5-----10-5-4-----$2 STRAIGHT SUPERFECTAS on 5-4-2-10-----5-2-4-10-----5-10-4-2-----5-4-10-1-----$1 STRAIGHT SUPERFECTAS on 4-5-10-2-----10-5-4-2-----10-4-5-2-----4-5-2-10-----5-2-4-1-----4-5-10-1-----4-5-10-6-----5-4-10-6-----5-4-2-6-----4-5-2-6. Let's get right back on track this year on my most dominate leg of the Triple Crown & build momentum for the Belmont Stakes in 3 weeks. Thursday, May 18, 2017 Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators (NHL) - 8:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -141 Nashville Predators Pick Title: 8 Star Thursday Blue Line Survivor (LOSS) This has been & nip-and-tuck type of a series thus far. However, I feel 8th-seeded Nashville has turned up their defense considerably. I expect HC Pete Laviolette to make smart changes accordingly to combat Anaheim's adjusted lines to try to steal early momentum. Ducks' right-winger Corey Perry did manage to net his 35th postseason goal in Game 3 (actually scored on a bad angle shot) but has been silent for the most part of the playoffs (that was just his 2nd goal in the last 11 contests). Much of his frustration has to be accredited to the Nashville defense who was stellar in Game 3 holding Anaheim shot-less for the last 11 minutes. The Predators doubled the Ducks in shots on goal (40-20) last time out. Sometimes a change in venue works wonders. In fact, Nashville comes into tonight's contest winning their past 10 post-season home games (that's the most recorded since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings). My bottom line says that Nashville is not only getting shots but also have a hot goalie in net as well. Goalie Pekka Rinne has limited opponents to 7 total goals his past 6 playoff home games including just 1 each the past 5 homers. That weighs in heavily in their superior home ice record that sits 30-9-6-2. Look for defensivemen Roman Josi & Ryan Ellis (both have combined in the playoffs for 10 points each which is a franchise record) to supply added pressure (this unit has 21 shots on goal in Game 3 which was 1 more than the Ducks final tally). Don't count out dependable left-winger Filip Forsberg whose scored in each game of the series which has translated into a team-leading 6 goals coming in. Let's trek to intimidating Bridgestone Arena to play the up-and-coming NASHVILLE PREDATORS as my 8 Star Thursday Blue Line Survivor! Wednesday, May 17, 2017 New York Mets vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) - 3:40 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -121 Arizona Diamondbacks Pick Title: 9 Star MLB Humpday Hottie (WIN) Those same sharp points still apply today (see last night's write-up) with regard to these Diamondbacks. LHP Patrick Corbin takes to the hill is a delight since the Metropolitans are hitting LHP slightly above the Mendoza @ .225. What intrigues me is we have RHP Matt Harvey who is pressing just as hard as his team (10.43 ERA over the last 3 outings going into today's 6-game team losing skein). Even taking into account when he was pitching well, it still is goose eggs as he's a perfect 0-6 his last 6 away games versus winning clubs. This is also the closeout of the series where the Mets have been no-shows losing 7 of their last 8 endings. My bottom line points to Corbin & the home squad as he brings in a 4-0 record his last 4 in Phoenix while Arizona also is a red-hot 21-8 @ home their last 29. The D'Backs have hit RHP well in their home confines giving us enough to pull out the sweep in the end. Let's once again make way to Chase Field to play the ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS as my 9 Star MLB Humpday Hottie! NOTES: Not our truest mini-series but nevertheless, we'll keep plugging looking for another patented streak to begin to best our current (25-5) last 30 plays. Here's current active sports overall records: 2017 MLB Overall Seasonal Record: 9-2 for 82%-----2016-17 NHL Overall Seasonal Record: 28-21 for 57%-----2016-17 NBA Overall Seasonal Record: 13-2 for 87%-----Last 2 Seasons Overall NBA Record: 26-5 for 84%.
 

Click here to view all of Mike Handzelek 's premium picks.